This is a piece that I have been somewhat actively working on since October, but have had limited time due to other work. However, it is also part of a series of pieces featuring the same scene bit.ly/MVzPUg. My last attempt done in 2005 was lacking in many areas including overall accuracy, and I felt that with the release of Skyward Sword, all of the 25th Anniversary Legend of Zelda stuff, and the excitement of putting together my own Dungeons & Dragons-style table-top Zelda game, it was about time to show off my skills again with a revival of this project. Another thing that also contributed to the creation of this piece was the release of high-resolution official artwork from Ocarina of Time, in particular, that of Ganon www.zeldawiki.org/images/3/3b/… . I could now get the accuracy I wanted and use the talent I had been honing throughout my time at the College for Creative Studies.

I cannot even fathom the number of hours I've spent on this, but it is considerable. The Master Sword and Hylian Shield alone took at least 20 hours each. I wasn't going to settle for anything short of perfection this time around. Everything in this image I drew from the ground up except for the manipulated ground and sky textures, which were taken from photographs. I also used textures to enhance the quality of metal, leather, cloth, skin, and horns.

For the art critics looking at this, my desire was to portray the dread and anticipation of an epic battle with the King of Evil reborn as a demon. I think anyone who has played the game felt the same way when Ganondorf rose from the dead and transformed into a monstrous beast before their eyes. I've seen many other depictions of the battle that are more action-packed or stylized, but my primary goal was accuracy, providing a sense of nostalgia for that moment, and recreating it in a way that gamers imagined the battle looking in real life.

For you die-hard Zelda fans out there, you may notice a few things that are different. The Master Sword I used is the design from Twilight Princess / Skyward Sword, mostly because it just looks so much more epic and finished than the simple design from Ocarina of Time. Also, the scabbard is from the design of those games, but this is mostly due the fact that I feel that Nintendo has desired to make the new design canon (since that scabbard design is in games that take place before and after Ocarina chronologically). Link is also wearing chainmail beneath his green tunic, which I felt would probably be more likely for an adventurer who is somehow able to withstand many enemy strikes (and once again is present in TP / SS). Navi actually has a physical humanoid body, as opposed to a simple winged, glowing orb. Fairies are clearly seen to have humanoid bodies in most of the other games, as well as the Great Fairies within Ocarina, so I felt for realism's sake, Navi should have a body. I attempted to give a little bit of a "forest fairy" flair to her, similar to the Great Fairies, but lesser. And finally, I added the Gerudo symbol to the Golden Gauntlets, mostly because they were admittedly rather plain and I felt that since the Silver Gauntlets were found in the Spirit Temple and Golden ones in Ganon's Castle, they might be of ancient Gerudo origin themselves.

Anyway, please leave feedback!

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AWESOME COMMENTS!!! I'm really feeling the love and I appreciate everyone's kind words. I'm honored to have received another DD with this piece!

Also, see the below alternate version with control interface: fav.me/d56rtwo<da:thumb id="313707048">

The detail on this piece is rather speachless. The bliss and fear of a toe-curling, teeth-gritting battle is all in this artwork, from Princess Zelda's face to Link's grip. truely amazing job on Zelda's expression, and on Link's chainmail. The scratches on the shield left my jaw open in pure amazment. Good work, It looks better than the original artwork! Ganondorf looks as snarly and much as a "Jerk-off" as he did in the heat of the battle. I remember it all, and for the release of Ocarina of Time 3d's sake, Zelda's hair actually FLOWS like it would in realaity. You even included THAT!! This is just breathtaking!!

You have done such an excellent job on this scene that it is hard to find the right way to compliment your artistic talent! Words like "astonishing", "incredible", and "breathtaking" are not strong enough.

There are so many amazing details in this work that it literally draws the viewer's eyes to scan each and every one of them. The fold's of Link's tunic and Zelda's dress were very skillfully done. The individual strands of hair and the ripped muscles of Beast Ganon's form are very realistic and proportional. The clouds give this piece a very dark and brooding atmosphere, which is very fitting to the main idea and theme of the final battle of Ocarina of Time. The shading on everyone and everything were done just right. I also like that you gave Navi a visible form within the glow, rather than making her just a ball of light with wings.

To sum it up I love everything about this picture, and I hope you are as proud of this accomplishment as I am! I wish the best of luck to you and any future works you may produce. It has been a pleasure critiquing this!

The Artist has requested Critique on this Artwork

This is so bad ass!! *_* I never thought of this fight as the battle for the Triforce though. XD. It was more like Ganondorf just trying to kill Link out of hatred and Link defending himself and Zelda. Anyway amazing work!

Wow, this is absolutely amazing. Ganon looks terrifying, and the textures and lighting effects you put together on everything looks fantastic. I'm very, very impressed with the Master Sword and Link's clothing especially. Absolutely beautiful, I think you captured the atmosphere of that moment perfectly!

This is spectacular. Absolutely breathtaking art! The image looks so realistic and your focus on the detail just completely blows me away. I love everything about this piece! I just recently finished Ocarina of Time, once again, and this makes me want to start another playthrough.